TULSA, Okla. — If you’ve enrolled in the state’s Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion Program, consider yourself warned.

You need to make sure you’ve made good on your promise to obtain auto insurance by January 31 or your case could end up being referred to the district attorney’s office for criminal prosecution.

The state’s diversion program for uninsured drivers was launched in 2018 with a network of cameras across the state which cite uninsured drivers.

Right now, the agency says there are 46,000 drivers on their books.

While they believe 75% of those enrolled have obtained insurance, those who have not need to do so by the end of the month.

“I’m glad I have it,” said Sid Burnett.

Burnett says he pays a lot for auto insurance, but he says he knows drivers who do not.

“I know quite a few people, you know, people just do what they want to do, like, make their own decisions, they know the roads so its kind of easy to avoid like cop routes and everything.”

Beginning January 31, uninsured drivers who have signed up for the state’s diversion program need to make sure they’ve acquired insurance.

If they’re caught on one of the state’s 75 cameras without it, they could face criminal prosecution.

“Now for these people that are not keeping up their end of the pre-charging bargain, we’re going to move into the charging phase,” said Amanda Arnall Couch, director of Oklahoma’s UVED Program.

She has first-hand experience with the headache of being hit by an uninsured driver.

Thankfully she had coverage for that, but it was still a hassle.

“The benefit to having all drivers insured in that situation is just it cuts down on a lot of headache and frustration and maybe having to wait to get your car fixed or your medical bills paid.”

She said over time it will also help bring down auto-insurance rates.

She says if you’re a program participant and you do get a notice, you need to act on it.

“If you got a notice, give us a call. We’re here to work with you,” she explained. “We’re trying to get compliance. We’re not here just to get your money or to send anybody to jail, that’s not what this is about.”

Since the diversion program was launched five years ago, the program has enrolled 100,000 uninsured drivers.

When it comes to vehicles, Amanda Arnall Couch says five years ago there were 315,000 registered vehicles in Oklahoma without insurance, that number today has dropped to 184,637.

For more information on the state program, click here.